Dust storm sweeps across Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Visibility was severely affected as a dust storm swept across Bahrain yesterday.

The Meteorological Department within the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication has alerted of fast gusts, reaching up to 30 knots.

The maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 34 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature stood at 23 degree Celsius.

The atmosphere yesterday was thickened by dust-laden winds, leading to a low level of horizontal visibility, even partially masking many buildings in Manama.

A recent international study found that sand storms remained one of the reasons behind poor air quality in the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is among the 10 nations having the worst air quality. Conducted by Swiss firm IQAir, the 2021 World Air Quality Report is based on measurements of particulate matter obtained by ground-level monitoring stations worldwide.

PM2.5, the size studied, consists of fine aerosol particles measuring 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter and is thought to be the most harmful to health of the air pollutants monitored by international bodies.

PM2.5 concentration in Manama yesterday was 20.2 times above the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The Kingdom came in at eighth, with 49.8 10 µg/m³.

Bangladesh was rated the worst at 76.9 µg/m³, followed by Chad, Pakistan, Tajikistan and India. The readings for Bahrain were higher than in 2020. A score over 50 means the level of PM.25 exceeds the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines by at least 10 times.

In September, the WHO updated the guidelines for the first time in 15 years to push countries to do more to combat the problem. The researchers behind the report used the new guidelines to return its results.

A much severe dust storm was reported in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia and many areas across Jordan. Jordanian Public Security Department (PSD) urged citizens, especially those living in the eastern, southern and central regions, to remain vigilant in light of the dust storm and the accompanying low-visibility conditions.

A large plume of Saharan Desert dust was reported to be blowing over Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean, shrouding many parts of the region with a heavy sheet of grey and orange dust.